If you can't afford to pay court fees and costs, you can apply for a waiver.
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Apply for indigency (waiver of court fees and costs)
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Massachusetts Court System
The Details of Apply for indigency (waiver of court fees and costs)
What you need for Apply for indigency (waiver of court fees and costs)
If you are unable to pay court fees, you can file the Affidavit of Indigency Form to ask the court to waive those fees. The Affidavit of Indigency Guide and File program will help you fill out the form by asking you a series of questions in plain language. Once you’ve answered all the questions, the program will generate a completed form for you to review that you can then file with the proper court, either electronically or in person.
To apply for indigency, you will need to fill out:
- Affidavit of Indigency
- Supplement to the Affidavit of Indigency (if you claim eligibility under Category (C))
You should complete the Inmate's Affidavit of Indigency form instead of the Affidavit of Indigency if:
- You’re currently in prison or jail
- You’re not seeking immediate release but are suing a "state or county agency, official or employee" about something related to a condition of confinement or something that happened during confinement, and;
- You’re looking for the court to pay normal court costs
How to apply Apply for indigency (waiver of court fees and costs)
You can file online by using the Affidavit of Indigency Guide and File program, which will help you fill out the form by asking you a series of questions in plain language. Once you’ve answered all the questions, the program will generate a completed form for you to review that you can then file with the proper court, either electronically or in person.
Once you fill out the appropriate forms, file them with the clerk at the court where your case is being heard. Use the Courthouse Locator to find your court.
Once you fill out the appropriate forms, file them by mailing them to the court where your case is being heard. Use the Courthouse Locator to find your court’s address.
Downloads for Apply for indigency (waiver of court fees and costs)
Open PDF file, 105.31 KB,
Instructions for Users of Affidavit of Indigency and its Supplement
(English, PDF 105.31 KB)
Open PDF file, 226.93 KB,
Affidavit of indigency
(English, PDF 226.93 KB)
Open PDF file, 130.91 KB,
Supplement to the Affidavit of Indigency
(English, PDF 130.91 KB)
Open PDF file, 41.78 KB,
Inmate's Affidavit of Indigency
(English, PDF 41.78 KB)
Open PDF file, 216.33 KB,
Court's Determination Regarding Fees and Costs
(English, PDF 216.33 KB)